The Living Cube includes a platform that accommodates a queen-size bed and an internal space for storage or a workspace underneath.

The walls can hold a 42-inch flat-screen TV, shelving, a fold-down desk, storage for clothes and shoes, and even a minibar in a series of compartments.

"My own living space had no storage space, but really high ceilings," Könneker told Dezeen. "I wanted an all-in-one solution and one sleepless night, the picture of this living cube came into my head - I made a simple sketch there and then in the dark."

"I never had any intention to build more cubes than mine, and certainly not to build a business out of it," he added.

Realising that people's needs and spaces would differ, Könneker has designed the Living Cubes to be modular.

Elements such as the bookshelf, drop-down desk and drawers can be configured to suit individual requirements.

The sleeping platform is accessed via a solid steel ladder, though a narrower variation without a bed can be installed against one wall.

The modules are built in Switzerland and North Carolina from three-layer spruce, stained black and finished with bio-oil. Off-the-shelf Clamex-P connectors are used to join the elements together.

The Living Cube is available in multiple and custom sizes, and Könneker is exploring options for use in boarding schools, hotels and the military.